Daily beach parking fees for residents decreased

Wednesday

SOMERSET — The Playground and Recreation Commission last Monday voted to increase the daily parking fee for non-residents at Pierce Beach Park during weekdays and to decrease the fee for residents.

The daily parking fee from Sunday through Saturday at the park will now be five dollars for residents and $10 for non-residents, which was effective immediately after the commission's meeting.

The previous rates had been seven dollars for residents and eight dollars for non-residents on weekdays and eight dollars for residents and $10 for non-residents on weekend days and holidays.

The town can not charge non-residents more than twice as much as residents because Pierce Beach Park was developed with money from the state's Conservation Fund. If towns allow their residents to use a park for free, the fee charged to non-residents can not be more than twice the fee at another comparable beach. Somerset residents who are military veterans or senior citizens are allowed to use Pierce Beach Park for free.

Recreation Director Barry Fontaine said there are generally more visitors to Pierce Beach Park from out of town on weekdays because residents are usually working when the park is open. Fontaine said people come to the park from Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Swansea, Fall River, Warren, R.I., Tiverton, R.I. and New Bedford.

"Our beach and playground is not a vacation destination place, but we have enough in our park for families to come to utilize it for a picnic," Fontaine said.

The park has a beach, ballfield, playgrounds, grills, picnic tables, benches and bathrooms. The park is known for its "big red slide." Fontaine said people also like to come to the park to do some walking. He said he is hoping the Recreation Department can get some grant funding to work on trails in the park.

The commission last week also voted to increase the fee for season passes to park at Pierce Beach Park from $30 to $50 for residents and from $60 to $100 for non-residents, as of July 1. A driver's license must be shown for a person to prove he or she is a resident who wants to park at the park.

Fontaine said people have commented on the new beach sand put in at Pierce Beach Park last year. He said the Playground and Recreation Commission will request Community Preservation Act funding to put in more new sand next year. Fontaine said he also wants to put dune fencing in so that the park does not lose sand.

Fontaine said he expects to soon see a big influx of people using Pierce Beach Park because the weather is getting better, children are starting to complete preschools and the park has two new playgrounds.

Fontaine said more children have been riding bicycles and said they can use the park for free.

Last year, Fontaine said the Recreation Department gave refunds to people who paid parking fees to use the park and then found out the playgrounds had been taken out.

Fontaine said the Recreation Department took in $1,100 for parking passes at Pierce Beach Park on the first day it was open on Memorial Day weekend this year which is the largest amount he can remember coming in on that day since he has been working for the town. Starting on Memorial Day weekend, the Recreation Department staffs the park on weekends until the summer when it is staffed everyday.

Last year at this time, Fontaine said the town had given out 20 season passes. This year, he said 55 season passes have already been given out. He said some of those totals includes free passes to senior citizens and veterans.

"But we are seeing more people come to the park," Fontaine said.

The park will be open an hour later on both weekday and weekend days than it was last year. This summer, the park will be open with staff from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Lifeguards will work from 11 a.m. to closing on all days.

Fontaine said the Recreation Department is also looking at doing something about parking on South Street where some people park their cars and then walk into the park for free. The town has discussed putting parking restrictions in that area to prevent that from happening. Fontaine said people parking on South Street to avoid the parking free in the park also disrupt Saint Patrick's Church that is on South Street just across the street from the park.

Fontaine said he has also had a lot of people call about having private parties at Pierce Beach Park. That is a different fee for private parties which is $50 for residents and $100 for non-residents for 30 people or less and $100 for residents and $200 for non-residents for 50 people or less. He said those parties are also limited to five hours.

Fontaine said he started to be more diligent about staffing the beach last year. He said it was fully staffed when the weather was nice, but was not if the weather was not conducive for using the park. He said there is still some staff at the park when the weather is not good, but not as many services. He said the bathrooms are kept open whenever the park is open.

Fontaine said the cost to run the park is $32,000 for the year. The Recreation Department employs staff to collect parking fees, lifeguards, a maintenance person and supervisor.

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